Air-cell unit for oil-flotation machines



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,625

J. M. FERGUSON AIR CELL UNIT FOR OIL FLOTATION MACHINES Filed Dec. '5 1925 WITNESSES I :27 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

1 UNITED STATES 1,612,625 PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES M. FERGUSON, OI PROVO, UTAH.

AIR-CELL UNIT OIL-FLOTATION MACHINES.

Application filed December 5,1925. Serial No. 73,422.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air cell for flotation machines of the character commonlyemployed for extracting metals from metallic ores by the flotation process, said cell including a number of improved features of construction.

A specific object is to provide a cell in which the mat is so mounted, that it may be readily removed and replaced, as well as held taut when the cell is in applied position and the flotation process is going on.

A more particular object is to do away with the great inconvenience caused in machines of a conventional type by the rusting of the bolts, nuts and set screws commonly employed for holding the mats in place, and to effect considerable saving of time and labor in the changing of the mats.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out inthe claims The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanymg drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1- is a view in longitudinal section through a tank showing my improved air cells in place.

Fig. 2 is a topjplanview of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of. the air cells.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the air cells.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View on the line 55' of Fig. 3.

One well known flotation process is carried out by flowing oil and water bearing the pulverized ore through the conventional tank 10 shown in the drawings. It includes va'sloping bottom 11, and supporting legs 12. A number of air cell units 13 aresupported on the tank bottom, the liquid carrying the pulverized ore is delivered into the top of the shallow end of the tank through a pipe line 14, and the tailings passed from the bottom of the deep end of the tank through a pipe line 15. Communicating with the deep end of the tank is a shallow trough 16 into which the oil and the metals extracted by the process are floated.

The bottom of each air cell connects with an air supply pipe 17, said supply pipes connecting with branch pipes 18 from an air supply line '19.

The apparatus as thus far described may be entirely conventional, the present invent on being more particularly concerned with the construction of the air cell units 13.

.lclls 13 are in the nature'of' relatively shallow boxes, and may be formed of any suitable material, such for instance as concrete. The boxes are of substantially rectangular shape including communicating grooves 20 in the to of their vertical walls. 21 represents a flexi le mat of some foraminous material such as cloth, the mat being stretched taut over the top of the air cells, and secured in place by the use of a flexible device 22. The flexible device 22 is preferably in the nature of a rope adapted to overlie the edges of the mat and to be forced into the groove 20, thereby clamping the mat edges in the groove and holding the mat taut. To support the mat intermediate its edges, I provide a air of bolts 23 rising from the bottom of t e box-like cells. These bolts are encircled by spacer sleeves 23 defining shoulders 24 at their upper ends. Rubber gaskets 25 backed by metallic washers 26 serve to clamp the mat snugly a ainst the shoulders 24. The gaskets 25, 26 ein securely held in position by wedges driven laterally through slots 28 in the upper ends of the posts.

Clamping the mat between the shoulders and the gaskets at points spaced from the edges of the box, offers the necessary additional support therefor, and eliminates the possibility of the mat edges being forced oulii of the grooves 20 by air pressures in the ce From the foregoing description it will be apparent that it is a comparatively e matter to change the mats on the air cells,.1t beingmerely necessary to grasp one end of the flexible device 22 and pull the same out of the groove, and to drive the wedges 27 out. The usual trouble of rusted nuts, bolts and set screws which frequently render the changing of mats an operation which consumes hours of time, are entirely obviated.

. Various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described, without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An air cell unit for flotation machines of the class described including an open top box-like body having an air inlet in its lower end, a mat stretched tautly across the open top of the body, posts rising from the bottom of the body. including reduced upper ends defining shoulders, gaskets clamping the mat on said shoulders, and removable eamnling devices associated with the gaskets to force the same into clamping engagement with the shoulders.

2. An air cell unit for flotation machines oflhe class described, including an open top box-like body portion having an air inlet in its bottom, a mat stretched across the open top of the body, bolts rising from the bottom of the body and encircled by spacer sleeves defining shoulders, gaskets slipped over the upper ends of the bolts and clamping the mat against the shoulders, wedge members driven through vertical slots in the upper ends of the bolts, and acting on the gaskets.

JAMES M. FERGUSON. 

